Judge confirms charges against Ethiopian dissident blogger

New York, January 25, 2012--Jailed Ethiopian dissident
blogger Eskinder
Nega will stand trial in March for all of the terrorism accusations initially
advanced by prosecutors, a federal high court judge ruled yesterday, local
sources said. If convicted on all charges, he could face the death penalty.

Judge Endeshaw Adane of the third criminal bench of the
Lideta Federal High Court in the capital Addis Ababa reviewed evidence
presented by government prosecutors yesterday and confirmed all six charges
against Eskinder. His trial will begin March 5.

Five other journalists, all in exile and to be tried in
absentia, initially faced the same terrorism charges. At yesterday's hearing,
the judge confirmed all six charges for two of those accused and dismissed all
but one charge against three others.

"This ruling is an affront to justice and underscores that
these are politicized charges used by the government to intimidate journalists
and chill news-gathering activities," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator
Mohamed Keita. "We call for all terrorism charges to be dropped as they are
baseless, and for Eskinder to be released immediately"

The two journalists besides Eskinder who still face all six
charges are exiled editors of opposition broadcasters: Abebe Belew of the
U.S.-based Internet radio Addis Dimts and
Fasil
Yenealem of the Netherlands-based ESAT,
according to CPJ sources and news reports.

Three other exiled editors -- Abebe Gellaw of the
U.S.-based Addis Voice and Mesfin Negash and Abiye Teklemariam of
U.S.-based Addis Neger Online -- will be tried in absentia under a single
terrorism charge each, according to local sources.

Ethiopia's antiterrorism
law criminalizes reporting or publication of information the government
deems favorable to groups designated as terrorists, which include opposition movements
such as Ginbot 7 and the separatists of the Ogaden National Liberation Front.
The government's application of the law against journalists and dissidents has
been criticized by the United
Nations and the U.S. State
Department.

The charges against the journalists are based on accusations
of "disseminating terrorist ideas" to Ethiopians such as through ESAT TV,
radio, Internet and Web chat forums such as Paltalk. The Addis Neger Online editors are accused of "lending professional
support for terrorism," by "allowing terrorist organizations such as Ginbot 7,
Oromo Liberation Front, and Ogaden National Liberation Front to express their
terrorist ideas and promote their agendas on their online publication," according
to a translation of the original charge sheet.

Other charges are based on accusations of recruiting young
people to membership of the groups designated as terrorist, and on treason and
spying for Ethiopia's arch foe, Eritrea.

Earlier this month, three
other local journalists were convicted of terrorism charges -- one in
absentia -- and they could face the death
penalty, news reports said. Their sentencing is expected tomorrow. In addition,
two Swedish journalists were
sentenced in late December to 11-year jail terms after being convicted of
supporting terrorism and entering Ethiopia illegally.

In Africa, only Eritrea jails more journalists than
Ethiopia, according to CPJ
research.